Evidence-based veterinary medicine (EVM) symposium survey results
1 October 2012
Delegates registering for the RCVS Charitable Trust’s free symposium “The Sceptical Vet: Eminence or Evidence? Finding the best way forward for the veterinary profession" were asked to complete a short survey ‘Assessing the temperature for EVM’. 
The survey was completed by 77 participants, over 70% of which said they are familiar with the concepts of EVM but only 36% claimed to always use EVM principles or have EVM principles deeply embedded in their practices.
When asked about the barriers to implementing EVM, many commented on the lack of high quality research available, and some pointed to the ‘service-industry’ approach of the profession with one commentator saying:
“EVM requires embracing uncertainty and fee-paying clients want certainty.”
This, and other views on how EVM affects the profession, will be part of the event debate with the aim of mapping a way forward for EVM application in practices.
Those who completed the survey were entered into a draw to win reimbursement of travel expenses to the event, and the winner drawn at random is Ariel Brunn, a veterinary surgeon at Vets Now, who says:
“I’m really looking forward to this symposium and the discussion that will come with it - along with clinical governance, evidence-based practice provides a means to offer the best care for our veterinary patients.
"Having been a practising vet for less than five years, I’m excited to learn more about how EVM can be incorporated into veterinary practice and I’m certainly pleased to have won the prize draw to support my travel to this event.”
The event is now fully booked, but a limited number of reserved places are still available for practising veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses only. Practitioners still wishing to attend are asked to contact Ashley Doorly in the Trust Office ([email protected] or 0207 202 0741).